Afleet Express, Javier Castellano win Travers by a nose

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — When Afleet Express and Fly Down crossed the finish line side by side in the Travers, jockey Javier Castellano — and probably most of the 45,764 fans at Saratoga on Saturday — had no idea which horse had won.

Castellano was riding Afleet Express. He had surged to the lead, cutting between pace-setter Miner’s Reserve and First Dude as they neared mid-stretch in the $1 million race. In the final furlong, Fly Down, with Jose Lezcano aboard, rallied alongside.

Castellano said that he and Lezcano talked to each other as they were pulling up the horses.

“As soon as we passed the wire, he and I looked at each other, ’’ Castellano said. ”We were laughing, but our faces were kind of worried. I said, ’What do you think?’ I guess I wanted to say, like (announcer) Tom Durkin, ’Too close to call.’’’

The photo revealed that Afleet Express won by a nose.

“It could go either way, ’’ Castellano said. ”I was very lucky today.’’

So was veteran trainer Jimmy Jerkens, who has worked with many stakes winners over the years, both on his own and as an assistant to his father, Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens.

“This is probably the highlight, I’d have to say, ’’ Jimmy Jerkens said.

Afleet Express, who was coming off a third-place finish in the Jim Dandy, settled in mid-pack early before moving into serious contention with a run along the rail on the final turn. He completed the mile-and-a-quarter in 2:03.28 and paid $16 to win.

First Dude finished third, 6 ¾ lengths behind Fly Down in the field of 11 3-year-olds.

It was a emotional victory for Anthony Beck of Gainesway Farm. His father, Graham Beck, founder and owner of Gainesway, died last month at age 80. Gainesway, which is in Lexington, Ky., and Martin L. Cherry own Afleet Express.

“I really wish he’d been here to see this, ’’ Anthony Beck said of his late father. ”He was very proud when Afleet Alex (who sired Afleet Express) came to Gainesway.’’

The emotions were more subdued on the losing side of the photo.

Lezcano declined to talk about the race.

For Nick Zito, who trains Fly Down, the loss was another near-miss in a major race this year for 3-year-olds.

Zito finished second in the Kentucky Derby with Ice Box, third in the Preakness with Jackson Bend and second in the Belmont Stakes with Fly Down.

“There’s another second, ’’ Zito said. ”Like I say, you’ve got to be content. You like to be grateful, but it’s tough. As they were hitting the wire, I was hoping, but I’ve watched enough photos. It was really tight.’’

For Afleet Express, the victory was his fourth in seven starts and first Grade I win.

Jimmy Jerkens said he’s not thinking about what race might be next for the colt.

“We’re just going to see how he is, savor this for a while, ’’ Jerkens said. ”This is a big, big day for all of us. I would tend to think we wouldn’t go to the Breeders’ Cup.’’

In other Grade I races on the card, both seven-furlong sprints, Rightly So led all the way in the Ballerina for older fillies and mares, and Discreetly Mine led all the way in the King’s Bishop for 3-year-olds.

Rightly So, a 4-year-old filly ridden by Cornelio Velasquez for trainer Tony Dutrow, ran the distance in 1:22.58 in a 4 1/2-length romp over Warbling. Jessica Is Back finished third.

Discreetly Mine, who won the Risen Star and finished fourth in the Louisiana Derby last season at the Fair Grounds, has raced only in sprints since he finished 13th in the Kentucky Derby. He has won three consecutive graded races since finishing second in the Woody Stephens on the Belmont Stakes card.

Ridden by John Velazquez for trainer Todd Pletcher, Discreetly Mine broke quickly to the lead, set a fast pace and held on, running seven furlongs in 1:23.16 to defeat late-running Bank Merger by 1 ¼ lengths. Latigo Shore finished third.

“He was going well all the way, even though they were going pretty fast, ’’ Velazquez said. ”I was hoping he’d be able to give me something down the stretch, and he gave me everything he had.’’